ENH1231 Turfgrass Science

Sedge Biology and Management in Turf1 Darcy E. P. Telenko, Ramon Leon, J. Bryan Unruh, and Barry J. Brecke2 Members of the sedge family have leaves that are Globe sedge (C. croceus) is a perennial that forms a composed of a blade, sheath, and ligule. The leaf sheath clump. Globe sedge has shiny leaves, a hard base, and is closed and the ligule is often absent, and when present seedheads shaped like globes (Figures 3 and 4). is tiny. Stem structure is often triangular. Perennial (green) kyllinga (Kyllinga brevifolia) is a Purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) is a perennial with mat-forming perennial with reddish to purple rhizomes. underground runners that continue from tuber to tuber, Leaves and stems are dark green. The seedhead is simple: forming chains. The tubers are bitter to taste. Purple nearly round or oblong with three short leaves just nutsedge produces a purple or reddish seedhead and has below. Green kyllinga reproduces by seed and rhizomes a boat-shaped leaf tip (Figure 1). and is found in low areas or where moisture is excessive.

Yellow nutsedge (C. esculentus) is a perennial with Annual sedge (C. compressus) is an annual that spreads underground runners that stop at tubers. The tubers by seed. The seed forms in clusters of flat, greenish, are sweet to taste or have little flavor. Yellow nutsedge sometimes glossy spikes up to 1 inch long (Figures 5 produces a yellow seedhead and the leaf tip is needle- and 6). shaped (Figure 2).

Figure 1. Purple nutsedge Figure 2. Yellow nutsedge Credits: D.E.P. Telenko Credits: D.E.P. Telenko

Figure 3. Globe sedge Figure 4. Globe sedge Figure 5. Annual sedge Figure 6. Annual sedge Credits: D.E.P. Telenko Credits: D.E.P. Telenko Credits: D.E.P. Telenk Credits: D.E.P. Telenko

1 This document is ENH1231, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date November 2013. Reviewed October 2016. Revised November 2019. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication. 2 Darcy E. P. Telenko, postdoctoral research associate; Ramon Leon, assistant professor, Agronomy Department; J. Bryan Unruh, associate professor, Environmental Horticulture Department; and Barry J. Brecke, professor emeritus, UF/IFAS West Florida Research and Education Center; UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611.. Herbicide Options for Controlling Sedges in Florida Turfgrass (Always refer to the label for specific uses, application rates, and turfgrass tolerance) *Indicates intermediate safety use at reduced rate according to label. Preemergence: S-metolachlor (yellow and annual), sulfentrazone+prodiamine (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga) BER Postemergence: 2,4-D+MCPP+ dicamba+MSMA (yellow and annual), bentazone (yellow, annual, kyllinga), carfentrazone+quinclorac (yellow), flazasulfuron (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), halosulfuron (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), imazaquin (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), mesotrione (yellow), sulfentrazone (purple, yellow, annual, kyllinga), sulfentrazone+imazethapyr (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), sulfentrazone+prodiamine (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), sulfentrazone+quinclorac (annual and kyllinga), sulfosulfuron (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), trifloxysulfuron (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga) Preemergence: S-metolachlor (yellow and annual), sulfentrazone+prodiamine* (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga) ST.A Postemergence: bentazone (yellow, annual, kyllinga), halosulfuron (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), imazaquin (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), mesotrione* (yellow), sulfentrazone* (purple, yellow, annual, kyllinga), sulfentrazone+prodiamine* (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), sulfosulfuron (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga) Preemergence: S-metolachlor (yellow and annual), sulfentrazone+prodiamine (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga) CENT Postemergence: bentazone (yellow, annual, kyllinga), carfentrazone+quinclorac (yellow), flazasulfuron (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), halosulfuron (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), imazaquin (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), mesotrione (yellow), sulfentrazone (purple, yellow, annual, kyllinga), sulfentrazone+imazethapyr (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), sulfentrazone+prodiamine (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), sulfentrazone+quinclorac (annual and kyllinga),sulfosulfuron (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga) Preemergence: S-metolachlor (yellow and annual), sulfentrazone+prodiamine (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga) BAHI Postemergence: bentazone (yellow, annual, kyllinga), halosulfuron (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), sulfentrazone (purple, yellow, annual, kyllinga), sulfentrazone+imazethapyr* (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), sulfentrazone+prodiamine (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga) Preemergence: sulfentrazone+prodiamine (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga) PASP Postemergence: flazasulfuron (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), halosulfuron (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), sulfentrazone (purple, yellow, annual, kyllinga), sulfentrazone+prodiamine (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), sulfentrazone+quinclorac (annual and kyllinga) Preemergence: S-metolachlor (yellow and annual), sulfentrazone+prodiamine (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga) ZOYS Postemergence: 2,4-D+MCPP+ dicamba+MSMA (yellow and annual), bentazone (yellow, annual, kyllinga), carfentrazone+quinclorac (yellow), flazasulfuron (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), halosulfuron (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), imazaquin (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), sulfentrazone (purple, yellow, annual, kyllinga), sulfentrazone+imazethapyr (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), sulfentrazone+prodiamine (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), sulfentrazone+quinclorac (annual and kyllinga), sulfosulfuron (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), trifloxysulfuron (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga) Preemergence: sulfentrazone+prodiamine (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga) RYE Postemergence: bentazone (yellow, annual, kyllinga), mesotrione (yellow), sulfentrazone (purple, yellow, annual, kyllinga), sulfentrazone+prodiamine (purple, yellow, annual and kyllinga), sulfentrazone+quinclorac (annual and kyllinga) BER=Bermudagrass; STA=St. Augustinegrass; CENT=Centipedegrass; BAHI=Bahiagrass; PASP=Seashore paspalum; ZOYS=Zoysiagrass; RYE=Perennial rye winter overseed Refer to the publication Pest Control Guide for Turfgrass Managers at http://turf.ufl.edu/pdf/2012_UF_Pest_Control_Guide.pdf for brand names associated with chemical names listed.